CAIE IGCSE Biology 16.1 Asexual Reproduction
Practise asexual reproduction questions by identifying one-parent cloning, plant examples and crop-production trade-offs from diagrams and contexts.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Biology 0610
Practise asexual reproduction questions by identifying one-parent cloning, plant examples and crop-production trade-offs from diagrams and contexts.
Fig. 2.1 shows a dwarf sunflower and a tall sunflower, Helianthus annuus. The height of the dwarf sunflower is 0.45 m and the height of the tall sunflower is 4.5 m .

not to scale
Dwarf plants like the one in Fig. 2.1 have mutant alleles.
Fig. 2.3 shows how several strawberry plants can be formed from one parent plant.

Fig. 2.3
Explain the type of reproduction that produces plants by the method shown in Fig. 2.3.
ref. to asexual reproduction ;
(plantlets / cells / offspring grow by) mitosis ; all cells / new plants, are genetically identical ;
AVP ;
Explain the disadvantages of the type of reproduction shown in Fig. 2.3.
competition for resources as all individuals are close together ;
increased risk of inheriting harmful, alleles / features / trait ; no / little, (genetic) variation ; no new adaptive features ; no evolution / no (natural) selection / no artificial selection / AW ; no / little, ability to respond to (named) environmental change ; all individuals are susceptible to the same, diseases / pests ; higher risk of extinction ;
The diagram shows a strawberry plant.
Which labelled part of the plant can only be produced by asexual reproduction?

D
Fig. 2.1 is a photograph of a spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum. Spider plants can reproduce by producing an identical plantlet, which grows away from the single parent plant.

Fig. 2.1
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction in a population of spider plants in the wild.
any four from: advantages
1 fast ;
2 no need for, pollination / pollinators ;
3 no need for, pollen / gametes / fertilisation ;
4 offspring adapted to parent's environment ;
disadvantages
5 no / low, (genetic) variation ;
6 more susceptible to (named) environmental change ;
7 more susceptible to a new disease OR disease spreads fast through a population ;
8 offspring are, very close / in competition ;
9 AVP ;
A only one parent plant / no mate, needed A no genetic variation is an advantage in a stable environment
e.g. climate change
e.g. less energy needed